June 22, 2020 - Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 past a string of empty grain cars at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Kentucky as it heads for Warrior Coal Main in Nebo, Ky to pickup a load of coal..

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 400.

NS 1098 SB at PAL West Yard, Madisonville, Ky

June 22, 2020 – Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 past a string of empty grain cars at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Kentucky as it heads for Warrior Coal Main in Nebo, Ky to pickup a load of coal.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 400.

June 22, 2020 - A fresh Paducah and Louisville Railway crew climbs aboard Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 at Central City, Kentucky as they prepare to continue to move empty coal train WYX1 on south to Warrior Coal mine, west of Madisonville, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500.

Paducah and Louisville Railway on WYX1 prepares to depart…

June 22, 2020 – A fresh Paducah and Louisville Railway crew climbs aboard Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 at Central City, Kentucky as they prepare to continue to move empty coal train WYX1 on south to Warrior Coal mine, west of Madisonville, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500.

June 18, 2020 - Tagged onto the end of a coal train as the DPU, Norfolk Southern 4001 "Sonic Bonnet" gets a top off on its sand as it sits at the Peabody Francisco Mine loadout at Francisco, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District as it prepares to depart for Duke Energy with another load of coal.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/13, 1/800, ISO 220.

Norfolk Southern 4001 “Sonic Bonnet” at Francisco, IN

June 18, 2020 – Tagged onto the end of a coal train as the DPU, Norfolk Southern 4001 “Sonic Bonnet” gets a top off on its sand as it sits at the Peabody Francisco Mine loadout at Francisco, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District as it prepares to depart for Duke Energy with another load of coal.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/13, 1/800, ISO 220.

June 22, 2020 - Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 through the pouring rain as it pulls up a hill as it heads south on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Milepost 135, south of Bremen, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 5000.

Paducah & Louisville WYX1 SB with empty coal train…

June 22, 2020 – Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 through the pouring rain as it pulls up a hill as it heads south on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Milepost 135, south of Bremen, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 5000.

June 13, 2020 - Coal dust from a fresh load of coal forms a cloud above the loaded cars as the "Sonic Bonnet," Norfolk Southern 4001, brings up the rear of a West Bound train on the main at Lyles Station Siding, as it heads to Duke Energy in Mt. Carmel, Illinois on the NS Southern West District in the late afternoon sun.

Wikipedia: NS 4000 and 4001 were painted in a blue, gold and white scheme and have been called "The Sonic Bonnets", due to their similarities to the eponymous character from Sonic the Hedgehog. NS 4002 and 4003 were painted in black, tuscan red, gray, and white scheme, while NS 4004 and 4005 were painted in black, blue, gray, and white scheme. The tuscan and blue "manes" on these four units are indicative of their rebuilding at the Roanoke and Juniata locomotive shops respectively. All of these units have DC to AC Waveform lettering underneath the cab windows.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, F/6.3, 1/3200, ISO 800.

Coal dust from a fresh load of coal forms a cloud…

June 13, 2020 – Coal dust from a fresh load of coal forms a cloud above the loaded cars as the “Sonic Bonnet,” Norfolk Southern 4001, brings up the rear of a West Bound train on the main at Lyles Station Siding, as it heads to Duke Energy in Mt. Carmel, Illinois on the NS Southern West District in the late afternoon sun.

Wikipedia: NS 4000 and 4001 were painted in a blue, gold and white scheme and have been called “The Sonic Bonnets”, due to their similarities to the eponymous character from Sonic the Hedgehog. NS 4002 and 4003 were painted in black, tuscan red, gray, and white scheme, while NS 4004 and 4005 were painted in black, blue, gray, and white scheme. The tuscan and blue “manes” on these four units are indicative of their rebuilding at the Roanoke and Juniata locomotive shops respectively. All of these units have DC to AC Waveform lettering underneath the cab windows.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, F/6.3, 1/3200, ISO 800.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern New York Central heritage unit 1066 passes Consolidated Grain & Barge Co. silos at Wayne City, Illinois as it heads west on the NS Southern-West District. It was running engine light, with two other engines in trail, as NS D51as it headed down the line to pick up empty grain cars. 

This was one of of the last three NS Heritage units that I haven't caught till now, so only 2 left till I've photographed all 20 of the NS Heritage fleet. Now I need to catch the Savannah & Atlanta Railway and the Pennsylvania Railroad to complete my NS Heritage picture set.  

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 125.

Norfolk Southern New York Central heritage unit 1066…

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern New York Central heritage unit 1066 passes Consolidated Grain & Barge Co. silos at Wayne City, Illinois as it heads west on the NS Southern-West District. It was running engine light, with two other engines in trail, as NS D51as it headed down the line to pick up empty grain cars.


This was one of of the last three NS Heritage units that I haven’t caught till now, so only 2 left till I’ve photographed all 20 of the NS Heritage fleet. Now I need to catch the Savannah & Atlanta Railway and the Pennsylvania Railroad to complete my NS Heritage picture set.


Today was a great day of railfanning with Ryan Scott and Eli Noble!! Many more shots from the day yet to come!


Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 125.

May 8, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 60P pulls through the Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street yard headed to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train, on a wet, rainy afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6 at 1/400sec, ISO 450.

Norfolk Southern 60P at Louisville, Ky

May 8, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 60P pulls through the Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street yard headed to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train, on a wet, rainy afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6 at 1/400sec, ISO 450.

May 8, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 60P pulls off the NS Louisville District onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway at PAL Junction in Louisville, Ky, as it heads through PAL's Oak Street yard and on to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad at Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train. 

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 400mm, f/6 at 1/400sec, ISO 360.

Norfolk Southern 60P pulls off the NS Louisville District…

May 8, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 60P pulls off the NS Louisville District onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway at PAL Junction in Louisville, Ky, as it heads through PAL’s Oak Street yard and on to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad at Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 400mm, f/6 at 1/400sec, ISO 360.

April 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) across the Wabash River bridge at Mt. Carmel, Illinois as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis. 

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 450mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO 640.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit at Mt. Carmel, IL

April 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) across the Wabash River bridge at Mt. Carmel, Illinois as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 450mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO 640.

April 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as it heads down the curve approaching the crossing on County Road 150 at Princeton, Indiana as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis. 

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 180mm, f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 400.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit at Princeton, IN

April 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as it heads down the curve approaching the crossing on County Road 150 at Princeton, Indiana as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis.
Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 180mm, f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 400.

April 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as passes through Hatfield Junction, east of Oakland City, Indiana, as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District.

In 2012, Norfolk Southern celebrated 30 years of being formed, and painted 20 new locomotives in predecessor schemes to honor its heritage. GE ES44AC #8025 was painted into the Monongahela scheme.

According to Wikipedia: The Monongahela Railway (reporting mark MGA) was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC and PRR later succeeded by Penn Central Transportation. The company operated its own line until it was merged into Conrail on May 1, 1993. 

Conrail would be bought in 1998 by Norfolk Southern and CSX. Eleven GE Class B23-7Rs (sometimes referred to as Super 7s), the Monongahela's final locomotive fleet numbered 2300-2310, were renumbered 2030-2040 by Conrail, then divided between NS and CSX when they operationally took over Conrail operations in 1999.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 390mm, f/9, 1/1000 sec, ISO 560.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit at Hatfield Junction…

April 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as passes through Hatfield Junction, east of Oakland City, Indiana, as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District.

In 2012, Norfolk Southern celebrated 30 years of being formed, and painted 20 new locomotives in predecessor schemes to honor its heritage. GE ES44AC #8025 was painted into the Monongahela scheme.

According to Wikipedia: The Monongahela Railway (reporting mark MGA) was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC and PRR later succeeded by Penn Central Transportation. The company operated its own line until it was merged into Conrail on May 1, 1993.

Conrail would be bought in 1998 by Norfolk Southern and CSX. Eleven GE Class B23-7Rs (sometimes referred to as Super 7s), the Monongahela’s final locomotive fleet numbered 2300-2310, were renumbered 2030-2040 by Conrail, then divided between NS and CSX when they operationally took over Conrail operations in 1999.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 390mm, f/9, 1/1000 sec, ISO 560.

April 29, 2020 - After working making a drop off at the yard in Princeton, Indiana, Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, pulls NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis, Mo.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/8, 1/1250sec, ISO 360.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, pulls NS 168…

April 29, 2020 – After working making a drop off at the yard in Princeton, Indiana, Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, pulls NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis, Mo.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/8, 1/1250sec, ISO 360.

April 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as it heads down the curve approaching the crossing on County Road 150 at Princeton, Indiana as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis. 

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 200mm, f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 280.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit…

April 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as it heads down the curve approaching the crossing on County Road 150 at Princeton, Indiana as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 200mm, f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 280.

April 29, 2020 - Well, for the first time since this pandemic began I left the state today! One of the four remaining Norfolk Southern Heritage Units that I haven't caught, NS 8025 (Monongahela) was leading NS 168 westbound from Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. 

In this shot I caught him after he passed the signals at East Douglas in Princeton, Indiana as it made its way on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis. 

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Irex 11mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 200.

NS Monongahela Heritage Unit at Princeton, IN

April 29, 2020 – Well, for the first time since this pandemic began I left the state today! One of the four remaining Norfolk Southern Heritage Units that I haven’t caught, NS 8025 (Monongahela) was leading NS 168 westbound from Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

In this shot I caught him after he passed the signals at East Douglas in Princeton, Indiana as it made its way on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Irex 11mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 200.